Suggestion for a new Regional Support Position 

Has anyone given consideration to a staff position on the National or Regional level that specializes in unit organization and recruiting to support local councils? Would it be beneficial to all to have a person that can go to individual councils for boots-on-the-ground, one-on-one or small group, hands-on, on-the-job training?
Some councils, especially small ones, are cash strapped and consequently are shorthanded. The SE is not in a position to spend much time training the new field executive(s), especially in the area of recruiting and unit organization. The new professional is handed a book or DVD and told to read it and get after it. We all know this happens, and agree that it is not the best situation but it is reality. It is not what we like or want, but outside conditions force this upon us at times. Yes, CPD teaches recruiting in PDL-1, but they are only able to spend a small amount of time on it, and with a large group at that, so there is not the advantage of one-on-one or small group instruction, hands-on teaching, nor is there the luxury of working out detailed methods suitable for specific areas of a school system, district, council, or even state.
For one reason or another, many councils and/or districts don’t have volunteers who have the time and/or talent to do good boy talks and roundups, and thus the councils are in membership decline. The Regional Recruiting Specialist (or whatever other title you might think appropriate) could come in and spend a few days or a week working with both field staff and volunteers to help get them up to speed, or to help polish their techniques. The Recruiting Specialist could also host cluster/area training seminars from time to time, so that several councils could benefit at one time. These training sessions could be held for either professional or volunteer groups, or both.
In some councils that are missing field staff and cannot afford to hire the needed staff, and are desperately needing membership so that they do not lose United Way or special grant funding, this person could come in for a week or two to boost membership. With the right preparation, in one week this person could generate more than 100 new youth for a council that is short handed, and that could pay big dividends for that council at the end of the year.
The Recruiting Specialist could also be invited to visit councils and audit their recruiting/unit organizing procedures to help them identify ways to improve them. A written report could be generated so that in subsequent months, the local council staff could review the suggested improvements to see if they are following the suggested plan, and if it is working. With feedback, our overall methods utilized in various councils could be compared and maybe would bring about changes for the benefit of all. The Specialist could also work with the other National staff to help plan and develop the recruiting plans that are delivered to the local councils each year.
There are some professionals in our organiation that have a special talent when it comes to recruiting and unit organization. There are some guys out there who can recruit 15 and 20 Boy Scouts in one roundup meeting, who can recruit more than 200 Cub Scouts a month, who can start new packs with 25 and more leaders, and who can start 4-6 new units in a month. It seems a waste of their talent to keep them confined to a district in a local council when they could help many more districts and councils succeed.